USA wins gold, silver in trios at PABCON Men’s Championships

The United States took the top two spots in the trios event Wednesday in the third event of the 2015 Pan American Bowling Confederation Men’s Championships.

Team USA’s John Janawicz, Marshall Kent and Sean Rash earned the gold medal with a six-game total of 3,879 at AMF Bolera Paradise Lanes in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The first three games of the event were contested on the 33-foot Sydney pattern and final three games on the 39-foot Seoul pattern.

Kent led the way with a 1,375 series and was followed by Rash (1,259) and Janawicz (1,245). The trio fired 712 in Game 5 to take a big lead on the field and coast to the gold medal.

The U.S. team of Bill O’Neill, Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones shot 3,767 to take the silver medal, overtaking Colombia in the final game to get to the No. 2 spot.

Jones fired 1,306, Barnes had 1,253 and O’Neill shot 1,208 as they finished with a 665 game in the finale to top Colombia by nine pins.

“The afternoon pattern was difficult but our gold-medal team pulled away after the fifth game,” Team USA coach Rod Ross said. “The last game, both teams bowled great and our silver-medal team was able to jump up the standings. We’re very proud of how both teams performed with the difficult and challenging lane conditions.”

In the all-events race after 18 of 24 games, Kent leads the field with 3,946, while Jones is second with 3,890. Gonzalez is third with 3,873.

The top 16 players in the all-events standings after the team event advance to the match-play Masters event, which will take place Friday. All six Team USA members currently sit within the top 16 heading into the final six games.

The PABCON Men’s Championships features the best bowlers from the American Zone competing for medals in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and match-play Masters. Competition continues Thursday with the team event.